Birmingham bike festival rolls in fun for families

The fourth annual Birmingham Bike Festival hits the streets of Downtown Birmingham on Sunday, Aug. 24, With a full day of races for kids and professionals, bike demos and local vendors in Shain Park, plus a children’s fair.

The festival will host the 2014 Michigan State Criterium Championship, a one-day race that crowns a champion for the state for a period of one year. Consisting of 6 races, any male rider who is a resident of Michigan and meets the requirements for the race category can compete.

There are also races for women, juniors, semi-pros, and experienced riders.

“There is a place for racers of every age, gender, and experience level,” Jeff Surnow, Race Founder & Director of the Birmingham Bike Festival said in a press release. “If you’ve never seen an urban bike race you should come; it’s really unlike anything you’ve ever witnessed.”

Advertisement

Thanks to the support of Volkswagen, the Surnow Company, and other sponsors, the event supports The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan, Detroit2Nepal Foundation, Beaumont Children’s Hospital, and Tour De Cure for the American Diabetes Association.

Wolverine Sports Club will coordinate the various bike races along with volunteers for the event.

Returning this year is the Miles4Alex event, a 20-minute bike parade put on by Detroit2Nepal Foundation for children of all abilities, honoring the memory of Alex Graham. Alex was a pediatric cancer patient who died to the disease in 1999. To celebrate her bravery participants are encouraged to wear superhero costumes. Following the parade families should attend the Rock Companies/Beaumont Children’s Fair from 1-4 p.m. for activities, entertainment, and concessions.

Vendors of the Birmingham area will have booths in Shain Park offering bike apparel, community information, food, bikes demos, and more to attendees. Spectators can also purchase raffle tickets to win a specialty cruiser bike courtesy of New Belgium Brewing.